PETA expert explains why the nose is the most important sensory organ for four-legged friends. With simple tricks, dog owners can support the animals in nose work.
Stuttgart. The important nose: Which dog owner does not know that? Time is pushing on a walk and the four -legged friend keeps standing to sniff. It is quickly pulled on a leash and the short stop interrupted. What people usually hardly worry about has consequences for the animals: they are disrupted during information. Jana Hoger, specialist for animal roommates at PETA, explains why the nose for dogs is so important why the dog body runs at full speed while sniffing and how animal owners can support the four -legged friends in nasal work.
“With up to 300 million olfactory cells, dogs are real sniffing world champions. Your highly developed sense of smell not only helps you to identify fellow species, to recognize dangers at an early stage and to track down food – you” read “smells like a text. When sniffing, they decipher information about the emotional state of animals and humans. That is why it is so important for them to explore the surrounding area extensively with the nose, “says Jana Hoger.” The intensive sniffing is a need for dogs. For people, it is comparable to reading newspaper or an informative meeting with acquaintances. When walks, the animal needs must be paid to the dog needs and the time belongs to the dogs. “
Through sniffing, dogs provide information from their surroundings and communicate with their peers: dogs get to know each other better about mutual sniffing. They find out in the way of gender, age, the willingness to mate, the mind, health and nutrition of the other. For dogs, this is essential information that provides information on whether the fellow species is suitable for reproduction or is a threat.
Regardless of whether it is a puppy or senior, big or small – every dog wants to sniff: dogs of small “races” also have the need to go for a walk and collect the latest information. For Chihuahua and Co., it is a pain to be carried around in the arm or in a pocket and thus never be able to be really dog. Even if four -legged friends cannot go that far, you should plan the time for extensive sniffing and select interesting routes for the dogs. Ways that are a little quieter and also like to choose for walking are best suited for this.
Sniffing can serve in dealing and social behavior with other four -legged friends: it is always to be assessed due to the situation. If the four -legged friend meets another dog, it often happens that one of the two suddenly turns to sniff something. This light “avoid” can have a de -escalating effect in potentially tense situations.
In nature there are great opportunities for nose work with the dog: Dogs can locate directions and create a kind of odor card in their brain due to their pronounced sense of smell. On their daily walks, they perceive many traces, such as a mouse, a hedgehog and other wild animals that crossed the way. Letting dogs hunt is taboo. As an alternative, people can positively employ the animals with visitors. Loving your favorite toys or special delicacies creates a variety. Also treats in tree bark, behind hedges, on benches or under leaves hidden are well received by most dogs.
Your own four walls are well suited for intensive sniffing training: in the right “sniffing carpets” that are available in specialist shops, or self-made “search boxes” made of cardboard can hide dog owners' favorite delicacies or the favorite toy of the four-legged friend. A training that also mentally utilizes the dog and deals creatively while human family members work in the home office, for example.
Attention: nose work is very exhausting for dogs. Animal owners have to ensure that the animals have access to fresh water, because their nasal mucous membranes quickly dry in the search games. During the nose work, dogs breathe in and off up to 300 times a minute, with panting and sniffing you lose a lot of water. After a good ten minutes of intensive training, inexperienced animals are completely out of breath. No wonder, after all, they do physical and mental high performance.